LAS CRUCES — Snow decorated cacti, palm trees and tent city residences Thursday afternoon, as Las Crucens and travelers brushed off the frost and prepared for a wintery night.

A group of homeless men gathered in the Community of Hope lobby as flakes accumulated on the ground outside.

The organization can open its doors at night for the homeless to sleep inside on days when the high temperature is below freezing, under an agreement with the Fire Department, Community of Hope Director Nicole Martinez said. But Thursday's temperatures were too high.

"Mostly, they're just coming in for as long as they can during the day," she said.

Snow dusted tents, bikes and blankets at the organization's year-old Camp Hope. Many of the 50 residents will likely stay at hotels with the help of Christmas money and checks from the first of the month, camp manager and resident Matt Mercer said.

Snow isn't the worst weather the camp could see, Mercer said; wind is more destructive.

"But it does get chilly," he said.

Canadian Bill Emillio said he didn't mind the snow while waiting at a bus stop near Sam's Club.

"I hate to say it — it'd paralyze the city — but I'd go for 10 inches," he said as snowflakes collected on his coat and beanie.

Ken Ereth stopped at the Travel Center of America on Motel Boulevard to swipe snow and slush off his motorhome. He is driving from a Outlook, Mont.

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, to Mesa, Ariz.

"This is the weather I expected to see in Montana," he said. "Not here."

So far, everybody seems to be driving sensibly, he said.

"I'm just worried about the other drivers," truck driver Scott Squires said. "There's people out there who can't drive."

He was headed to El Paso, Texas, where the brunt of snow landed Thursday, then up to Michigan where more snow is in this weekend's forecast.

"This is just the start of it," he said.

Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 575-541-5462. Follow her on Twitter @l_m_anderson.

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